One Very Loud Experience: An Interview With New York’s Omnism

By Staff | June 7, 2026

Direct from the 914, the hardcore/thrash band Omnism emerged from two and a half decades of shared musical history among its members. Their sound fuses the raw aggression of hardcore with the technical ferocity of death metal, creating a groove-laden, riff-heavy attack that reflects the eclectic tastes within the group. Drawing inspiration from the melting pot of New York’s ’80s and ’90s underground scenes, the band prioritizes dynamic flow and passionate collaboration over compromise. With their latest album, A Sleeper Awake, they deliver an experience that balances crushing intensity with nuance, solidifying their place in the local scene and beyond.

After 25 years of playing in each other's bands, what finally made Omnism the right shared vehicle for all of you at this specific moment?

It all just seemed to fit together organically. We all knew and respected each other and we all just wanted to jam.

Hardcore in the 914 Fest is coming up next weekend. Will be this biggest stage you've played on?

We’ve been fortunate to play some big stages over the years but we’re always happy to be in a room with so many friends. Both on and off the stage. The room will be filled with a ton of familiar faces and we’re excited to see the bands we don’t know about yet. It’s amazing that there’s this many bands on the show. This scene is thriving and we love it.

How do you reconcile the direct hardcore punch of Minor Threat with the technical brutality of Deicide in the same song, let alone the same band?

It really flows through all of us. There’s some very eclectic tastes in this group. I think we’ve found a good balance of punch and pocket. The riffs are all over the heavy music map, but once Jon (drummer) gets his hands on it, it’s going to groove.

Coming from Westchester, how much did proximity to NYC's '80s hardcore and '90s death metal scenes shape the specific thrash/crossover sound of Omnism?

We grew up going to shows in the area. It’s been a mixed bag for as long as we’ve been out there. CBGB - Coney Island High - Lamours - Castle Heights - Wetlands -Streets. Cro-Mags playing with Destruction - Agnostic Front opening for Obituary. It’s all a big melting pot of aggressive music.

What's the one lesson from your debut that you swore you'd apply to this second album without compromise?

We wanted A Sleeper Awake to have more ups and downs. To flow more seamlessly like an album that you can "experience" from start to finish. We stand by everything we did on the first album. Glen Lorieo (Billy Club Sandwich/No Redeeming Social Value) did a great job behind the board for us on Forced Perspective. This time around we had Richie Kennon (Subzero) helping mold the new record into shape. We’ve been very lucky to work with great producers who saw our vision and made it a reality.

With 25 years of collective history, do you still have to bite your tongues during writing sessions, or has the respect grown loud enough to make arguments productive?

Tongues are rarely bitten in the room with us. Especially as the beer cans start to pile up. We’re not too harsh on each other though. If you’re not fighting for your voice to be heard you’ll end up playing music you don’t care about. Passion is everything.

Who's the one current Westchester band you'd insist any real punk and metal fan see immediately (yes, you can say yourselves)?

I can think of about 15 of them and they’re all playing June 13th in Yonkers 😉 Play our new record, A Sleeper Awake very loudly on the way there though.

What's a single lyric on the new album that you hope someone might remember twenty years from now?

Through time we forget our downfall - religious hierarchy
Imprisoned in this vicious cycle - No joy without the pain
Expecting a different outcome - with actions all the same
we've come to the same place.
The future's been told - so abandon all hope

Anyone you'd like to thank?

You for interviewing us! Lee & Debo from Hardcore In The 914 and NYHC Comics. Outsider Magazine. Becky and Mike McAuley for working so hard on the A Good Problem To Have compilation that will be available on June 13th at the fest.
RIP MIKE